Please, Take the Road!

It was already high noon.

The crowd gathered at the city gate had finished their registration and dispersed, each secretly anticipating the reward money from the Second Young Master of the Chen Family.

Zhao Bing was still standing barely ten meters away from Chen Mo, clutching his spear and thinking to himself: The Second Young Master of the Chen Family must not come to any harm. If the bandit dares to resist, I shall rush over and skewer him.

Capturing a bandit was, in itself, a meritorious deed.

Now, not only had the bandit been caught, but he would also receive a reward from the Chen family—it was killing two birds with one stone.

Zhao Bing felt immensely pleased.

Yet, the very next moment, he watched with his own eyes as Chen Mo cleanly hacked off the bandit's head. Zhu San's head flew six meters away, rolling across the ground until it came to a stop right at Zhao Bing's feet.

Blood was still spraying from the severed neck, splattering onto his trouser legs.

Watching Chen Mo's retreating back as he carried his blade away, Zhao Bing suddenly felt an inexplicable chill.

"He was abducted by two bandits, yet he didn't panic; instead, he kept half a hairpin in his mouth, pretending to be asleep. When the bandits left the city, he fought with all his might to kill one of them. He even used the reward money to incite the crowd to surround the remaining Zhu San, ultimately capturing him. Perhaps he squeezed some critical information out of Zhu San before hacking him to death. The calculation involved was seamless, every step a lethal trap. If it were anyone else, how could they have survived?"

"Outsiders all say the Second Young Master of the Chen Family is a spendthrift who throws money away like dirt. What a massive misunderstanding that is."

"This eight hundred taels of silver... taking it makes one's heart tremble."

Zhao Bing regained his composure and ordered his soldiers, "Take these two bandit corpses to the Guard Station to claim the reward."

Meanwhile, Lin Yu Lan knelt prostrate before the statue of Goddess Hong Deng in the Chen Family Ancestral Hall, offering incense.

She kowtowed incessantly.

"I beg Goddess Hong Deng to protect my Second Young Master and bring him home safely. He is the only child I have left; even if I had to trade my own life for his, I would not frown for a second..."

"I beg Goddess Hong Deng to shelter him, I beg you."

Thud, thud, thud.

Before she could finish, Lin Yu Lan began kowtowing violently again.

Just then, Steward Liu's voice came from outside the door, "Mistress, the Master has returned."

Lin Yu Lan jerked her head up, rushing out of the ancestral hall and sprinting toward the central courtyard. There, she found Chen Yin Fu sitting dejectedly in a rosewood chair.

Besides Chen Yin Fu, a beautiful woman stood nearby, along with a thirteen-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl.

The woman was Zhang Ru, Chen Yin Fu's second wife. The boy was her son, Chen Wu. As for the five-year-old girl, she was Chen Yu'er, the daughter of the Third Concubine. The Third Concubine had died young, leaving behind only this lonely little girl.

Chen Yu'er was wearing a red cotton-padded jacket, holding a Candied Hawthorn in her hand, completely unaware of what had happened.

When Zhang Ru and Chen Wu saw Lin Yu Lan approaching, they both bowed.

Lin Yu Lan ignored them and walked straight to Chen Yin Fu, "Master, what did the Red Lantern Society say?"

Sigh!

Chen Yin Fu shook his head, sighing, "The Red Lantern Society has been busy lately and still refuses to grant me an audience."

Lin Yu Lan's already frail frame swayed, and she nearly collapsed to the ground. Zhang Ru stepped forward to support her, "Mistress, you must take care of your health. Head Guard Zhou and the others have gone to search. They will surely find the young master."

Lin Yu Lan shot Zhang Ru a sharp look, then glanced at Chen Wu, "It isn't your son who met with misfortune, so you find it easy to speak empty words."

Zhang Ru shuddered and lowered her head, not daring to speak.

Chen Wu stepped forward then and said, "First Mother, Brother Mo is a man of great fortune; he will not come to harm. Besides, even without Brother Mo, First Mother still has me. I am your son too, and I will be filial to you in the future..."

Before Chen Wu could finish, Zhang Ru hurried over to cover his mouth, scolding him harshly, "When adults are talking, what place is there for a child to interrupt? Go outside and stand in punishment. You are not to eat until the Mistress permits it."

Thirteen-year-old Chen Wu did not know what he had said wrong to provoke such anger from his mother. He felt deeply aggrieved but dared not argue. He swallowed his grievance and walked out the door, standing in the cold wind until his hands and feet began to tremble.

Zhang Ru hurriedly said to Lin Yu Lan, "The child is young and ignorant. Xiao Wu meant well, he just lacks a sense of propriety. I beg the Mistress not to hold it against a child."

Zhang Ru was the daughter of a wealthy family herself, and her background was not poor. But in the Chen Mansion, she was ultimately a secondary wife—a concubine. She had to live by others' whims.

Lin Yu Lan looked at Zhang Ru's panicked expression, then at Chen Wu standing in the cold wind outside, and finally could not bear it, "Let Xiao Wu come in. The wind is strong outside; don't let him freeze."

Zhang Ru dared not comply, "The Mistress is kind, but Xiao Wu spoke wrongly after all. He deserves to be punished so he may learn the rules."

Lin Yu Lan said no more.

Five-year-old Chen Yu'er saw her brother being punished and felt her Candied Hawthorn was no longer sweet. She ran to Lin Yu Lan and timidly tugged at her sleeve, "First Mother, what wrong did Brother Wu commit to deserve standing in punishment? Please forgive Brother Wu. I just saw Brother Wu going out to look for Brother Mo."

Lin Yu Lan glared at Zhang Ru, "Are you forcing me to play the villain? Bring your precious son inside at once."

Zhang Ru was caught in a dilemma, but finally gritted her teeth, "The Mistress is kind, but as his mother, I cannot let Xiao Wu lose his sense of discipline. I will just have Steward Liu bring him a thick coat."

Steward Liu had been waiting outside the door; hearing this, he hurried to the side room to fetch a thick, heavy coat and draped it over Chen Wu. He then stood respectfully to the side, waiting.

Unlike the hopeful expressions of Chen Yin Fu and Lin Yu Lan, Steward Liu's expression remained indifferent.

He knew very well that Chen Mo would not be coming back.

The family waited in the living room for a long time, but no news arrived, and they grew increasingly restless.

Just then, Qiulan rushed in, shouting as she ran, "Master, Mistress, the Second Young Master has returned."

Chen Yin Fu and Lin Yu Lan scrambled to their feet, rushing to the main gate to look outside.

Before long, they saw Chen Mo approaching, carrying his blade, covered in blood, and looking travel-worn.

Steward Liu was the most shocked of all; his body curled in on itself as he began to shiver uncontrollably.

How is this possible...

Chen Mo walked against the biting wind into the Central Courtyard, and from a distance, he saw his youngest sister, Chen Yu'er, sprinting toward him. She threw herself into his arms, crying, "Brother Mo, you've finally returned! Everyone has been waiting for you."

Chen Mo had been in a foul mood, but seeing how adorable his youngest sister was, he hugged Chen Yu'er before setting her down. He walked forward a few steps and saw Chen Wu standing under the eaves as punishment.

"What are you doing standing there?"

Chen Wu glanced at Chen Mo and immediately felt the heavy Sha Qi radiating from him. With bloodstains on his face and a Broadsword in his hand, Chen Wu felt a primal sense of dread, lowering his head without a word.

Chen Mo looked toward Zhang Ru, who was also standing under the eaves. Stunned by Chen Mo's appearance, she hurriedly explained the situation, finally adding, "A child cannot be without discipline..."

Chen Mo couldn't be bothered with pleasantries and said directly, "Chen Wu didn't say anything wrong. If something were to happen to me, Chen Wu would be Mother's son and would have to shoulder the future of the Chen Mansion. Let him go inside."

Zhang Ru was greatly astonished, looking at this formidable Second Young Master before her in disbelief.

In Zhang Ru's memory, the Second Young Master had always been petty and vicious, delighting in bullying Chen Wu and constantly mocking him for being born of a concubine. How could he say such things today?

"My son, you've finally returned. You scared your mother to death!" Lin Yu Lan ran down the steps in a flurry, disregarding her composure as she tightly embraced Chen Mo, as if afraid he might slip away from her arms.

Chen Mo felt deeply moved and forced a smile, "Mother, I am fine."

After a long while, Lin Yu Lan finally let go of Chen Mo.

Chen Mo walked up to Chen Yin Fu and cupped his hands, "I have been unfilial and caused you worry, Father."

Chen Yin Fu was a man of reserved emotions who rarely showed his feelings, but the joy on his face could not be hidden, "It is good that you are back, it is good that you are back. You are Father's good son. Come, tell Father what happened."

"Please wait a moment, Father. I still have one matter to settle." Chen Mo cupped his hands, then walked over to Steward Liu, who was standing to the side.

Steward Liu felt his heart falter under Chen Mo's beast-like gaze, but being an old fox, he quickly cupped his hands and offered congratulations, "Congratulations to the Young Master for escaping danger and returning safely. I was just praying for you in my heart. You must be hungry after your journey; I will have the kitchen prepare lunch immediately."

Steward Liu turned to leave, but Chen Mo called out to him.

"Steward Liu, stay a moment."

Steward Liu turned back, his attitude extremely respectful, "Does the Young Master have any other instructions?"

Chen Mo said, "I would like to borrow something from you, Steward Liu."

Steward Liu bowed and cupped his hands, "I have served the Young Master and the Master for many years; my food, water, and clothing are all gifts from you. Whatever the Young Master needs, just ask—why speak of borrowing?"

"In that case, I shall borrow your head!"

With that, Chen Mo drew his blade. In a flash of cold light, a living head flew from the neck. Crimson blood sprayed from the severed stump, shooting three feet into the air.

Clang!

Chen Mo sheathed his sword the next moment, the metal ringing with a sharp hum.

Then came Chen Mo's soft whisper.

"Please, be on your way!"